Edgar was in Carbondale Friday to give city officials a $350,000 grant for home renovations when he said he now thinks of the Illini route is a priority for Southern Illinois and said he will look for a long-term answer.

The current funding will end in February, but we will look to legislative action for a long-term solution in the next 30 days, he said. I am looking for any possible solution.

USG Chief of Staff Scott Pfeiffer said the student government delivered its resolution supporting the Amtrak route, and he said the group was pleased with what the governor said.

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It sounds like Edgar is getting Southern Illinois’ message. Pfeiffer said. This is going in the right direction, but USG will continue to keep up the letters, signature petitions and the phone calls to legislators.

Federal budget cuts forced Amtrak to ask Illinois legislators for a $2.5 million subsidy to continue the Chicago to Carbondale route through June 30. The governor said he had not heard any concern from Southern Illinoisans about the possible cutting of the route until recently.

In the Capitol Building Tuesday at 4 p.m. in room 118 there will be a public hearing concerning Amtrak and SIU President Ted Sanders and other representatives from Carbondale will testify before State Representatives on the need to continue the Chicago to Carbondale route. State Rep. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro, said legislation will be introduced after the hearing, supporting continued funding of the train.

Bost said he feels a solution can be reached to keep the service.

The governor and I spoke and I expressed our concerns and told him about the petitions I have, he said. I believe he understands the need for the train.

Carbondale Mayor Neil Dillard said the governor attempting to find a permanent solution for the train route is a result of community effort.

I feel that as a University and business community, as well as the surrounding area, that we have made it known to the governor and legislators that we need this train, Dillard said. We appreciate the cooperation of the students to help save the train.

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Nan Strange, wife of an Amtrak employee from Carterville, said she was pleased to hear that the governor said that the route is now a priority. Strange brought a large cardboard cutout of a silver Amtrak train to Edgar’s presentation Friday to get the governor’s attention.

I hoped he would talk about the train because I am very concerned about the economy of Southern Illinois, Strange said. Losing the train would be devastating. I was happy with what he said.

Edgar did express concern about the federal government cutting more programs, and he said the federal government expects the state to fund the programs.

We cannot pick up all the programs that the federal government cuts from their budget. We may have to say no to something, Edgar said. We have to determine what is a priority by looking at the big picture.

Carbondale citizens at the press conference wanted to know what other programs may lose funding by federal government .

Many of the social service programs will be left to the state, such as welfare, Edgar told the citizens.

The state may take on the funding of more programs if the federal government extends the state flexibility to fund the programs, Edgar said.

When the federal government decides on its budget, I feel confident that we can handle most of the programs that are left to the state, he said.

The governor spoke about Amtrak after he delivered a $350,000 grant to the city of Carbondale to use in renovating 28 homes on the northeast side of the city.

The money came from the Community Development Assistance Program funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The money specifically for Carbondale came from $3.4 million in grants to 13 Southern Illinois communities. The largest grant that was allowed to be awarded was $400,000.

This grant is to be used to renovate substandard housing in the community, Edgar said. This grant is tax dollars well spent.

Dillard said that the money will continue renovations in the community and create job opportunities as well as much-needed renovations.

These homes will receive upkeep that could not have been done because these people do not have the money. They spend their money on food and heating, and there is no money left, Dillard said. This will also provide employment for contractors and a market for building material, he said.

City Manager Jeff Doherty said the people who benefit from the grant have very low incomes sometimes elderly with fixed incomes who could not afford general upkeep of the homes. He said the renovations will improve the living conditions of the house and raise the overall real estate value of Carbondale.